Chapter 59: Release
Wednesday, November 16th, Night 20XX
"Finally." Ren could not restrain the utterance as his eyes snapped open in the middle of the night. He was still in a prison cell, but it was one that felt far more friendly. Or at least it used to.
There was a chill now to the velvet room. As Ren stood up and sauntered to the door, the twins finally noticed him. Jumping to their feet, they rushed over.
"Re—Err, Inmate!" Caroline called out. Her voice was unusually twinged with anxiety. Rather than swing at his hands that clutched the bars of his cell, she touched them as well.
"We have been hoping for your return," Justine spoke more honestly.
"I've missed you two as well," Ren returned their feelings. "I could use some advice. I was hoping—"
"Hope?" A deep, booming voice interrupted. Shadowed in the darkness of the room, Igor's eyes shone with a malevolent light. The man had always come across as a bit mysterious and intimidating. There was no bit about it now. Ren's body shivered with terror as he beheld those glowing golden eyes. They reminded him of Shido's for some reason. "We were hoping that you could be rehabilitated. Alas, you have disappointed all three of us. Now you are imprisoned not only in your mind but in life as well."
"I-I did what I had to!" Ren argued. "What other choice did I have!?"
"Doing better," came the voice of final judgement. "After all, is that not what you expect of the palace owners?"
"I…" Frustrated, Ren ground his teeth. He could feel the cold iron bars of his cell creak under the force of his grip. Lost in self-introspection, Ren missed Igor's next words.
"This has been a failure. Caroline, Justine, do your duty as wardens and remove the prisoner that cannot be rehabilitated."
"B-But!" Both girls protested. "The human world is really complex. He really is trying!" That was Caroline. Justine followed up; her voice more animated than Ren had ever remembered it being. "Please, don't make us do this, Master!"
Ren had a bad feeling as for the first time ever, the door to his cell creaked open. Feeling vulnerable, Ren recoiled from his new freedom, taking a step back. "What… What are you saying, Igor?"
His eyes shone with a malevolent light. "That you are to be executed as a failure."
Executed. Me?
Just as he was excited to receive advice and reunite with Justine and Caroline, this happened. Ren didn't understand. What had changed? Had he run out of time? "H-Hold on! I can still fix this! Just tell me what I did wrong!"
"Y-Yeah! I'll whip him into shape!" Caroline begged on his behalf. Her tsundere exterior shattered under the tension of the situation.
"Unfortunately, our guest has become redundant. Proceed with the execution."
Caroline and Justine's faces stiffened. Taking steps away from his cell, they turned to face him. "Come here, inmate."
"You two…" Ren couldn't believe his eyes.
"We said come!" Caroline yelled. She sounded like an angry child. However, there was an undercurrent of power in her voice that dimmed Ren's vision. When he blinked away the darkness, he found himself suspended in the very same gallows that the twins used to craft new personas.
What? How did I? But Ren had no time for that. Eyes roaming, he found Igor smiling menacingly at him. "H-Hold on! Are you taking my powers away? I don't understand!"
"Powers?" Igor laughed openly. "No, you must pay for your crimes with your life."
This… is it? For the second time in a few days, Joker's emotions exploded within him as he rejected the outcome. Strength filling his arms, he busted from the gallows with ease as his phantom thief outfit formed around him. Joker glared as he drew his knife. "I won't go down without a fight."
"Inmate…"
"Ahh…"
Neither Caroline nor Justine looked all that thrilled about fighting him. Either way, they took stances and faced him.
"Finish this, Justine." With a casual wave of her hand, Caroline increased all of her sister's abilities: attack, defense, and speed.
"Ahh, will do." The book in Justine's hand flipped open to a random page and shone with bright light as a large demon of fire manifested above her head. Ren did not even have time to wonder at the persona's identity before it shot a laser of pure heat at him.
There was no dodging. The accuracy and precision of the attack was incomparable to any enemy Joker had encountered before.
Gasping, he collapsed to one knee. If not for his equipped persona having a resistance to fire, it was likely that that single attack would have killed him. I have to… Gripping his knife, Joker stood up and left it low at his side. "I'm not going to fight the two of you. You mean too much to me."
"Damn it! That doesn't mean… You can't—"
"Caroline, we must finish our master's orders!"
"But-!"
Breathing laboriously, Joker tried one more time to bring the twins to his side. "If I have truly been such a bad inmate that this is what you must do, I accept it. However… I think our bond will allow us to find a different solution."
"Caroline…" Justine's voice broke with tears.
"I-I know…"
" Finish him!" Igor commanded. His voice—if it could still be called as such—reverberated through the room like the growl of a bear.
That was Igor's final mistake. The shockingly inhuman words made Caroline and Justine stumble away from him. Staring with fear on their faces, all three watched as Igor floated from his chair. All traces of humor and levity were long since gone as his body emitted a black miasma.
"W-We have to…" With teeth chattering, Caroline and Justine could not generate the power that they had used to assault Ren.
" Fools! I defeated you in your proper form. I will now rectify my mistake of thinking you'd be useful."
Raising an arm, the Igor-doll began to gather a void of darkness around the palm of his hand. There was some sort of awesome power gathering there. Joker's body recoiled in instinctual fear of the abyss he saw within Igor's power.
"Urgh! My head! Split…?"
"Caroline… W-We have to…"
The twins shared a look and jumped into motion. Justine turned to Joker and cast a spell, healing him. Caroline meanwhile rushed to the wall and grabbed the chainsaw she kept there. Revving it up, she threw it through the air.
"Execute us, inmate!"
"Huh?" Confused by the change in events, Joker sloppily caught the running tree-chopper.
"You must!" Justine insisted. "There is no time to explain!"
"Trust us!" Caroline yelled at him.
Joker hesitated for just a moment as Caroline and Justine lined up in front of him. Their small, child bodies made one small target. Only Caroline's head as she peered around her sister was visible.
Trying not to think about it. Joker howled and drove the chainsaw through their torsos. Plunging it straight in, Joker feared the fountain of blood. There was none, however, only particles of light.
The twins gasped, their skin becoming transparent. As Joker saw through the lined-up twins, their two total eyes matched. The perfect mirrors lining up to form a single person.
I defeated you in your proper form.
As the chainsaw went dead, the particles of light swirled and increased in intensity, increasing in magnitude.
Eventually, the only part of the twins that Joker could see were those two eyes, staring at him. The intense golden glow from the pupils captured his attention. He could barely catch the words of Igor raging from the side.
"NO! How dare you put her together again! Foolish human, rebelling against humanity's chosen course."
His inhuman raging was useless as the execution finished. The lights faded and Caroline and Justine reformed into one person. She was like a fairy from myth. Her presence was a spring breeze made flesh. She was taller than the twins and looked older with a regal face. Long, straight flowing golden hair was held in place by a butterfly ornament.
"At last…" The words were like a bell. Crisp and clear, they reverberated in Joker's mind. "Thank you for your aid, hero, my name is Lavenza. I have long desired to make your acquaintance."
"Ah, umm…" Joker could not focus on her as Igor continued to float in place, cloaked in black miasma.
Lavenza waved a hand in the general direction. "Be gone, evil one. Leave my master's chamber and be gone for good."
" You shall regret this…" With one final ominous warning, Joker's mentor for the past half a year vanished into a cloud of black snoke.
Almost instantly after, a flash of white light saw the reappearance of Igor.
"Master!" Lavenza cried, rushing to his desk.
"Ahh, I'm alright child." Pushing himself up off his desk, he locked eyes with Ren. While the physical appearance was the exact same, they were clearly different people. The light in his eyes was still mischievous, but it was of a softer, kinder nature now.
"What… What happened?"
"Rest for now," Igor advised. "We will explain everything shortly, as my bet for the future of humanity reaches its end."
Having no say in the matter, Ren passed out. When we opened his eyes, it was to another hard day of work in the prison.
Tuesday, November 22nd, Evening 20XX
"Tomorrow, huh…" Maruki mumbled to himself. As always, he was still wearing his white lab coat. It had changed from an eccentricity he used to establish an aura of a doctor to a safety blanket. Wrapped up in it, Maruki consistently found himself repeating to himself that he was doing the correct thing.
As he stood on one of the upper floors of Akira's building, he stared out at the Tokyo nightscape. A sea of artificial lights. Each one representing another lost soul that he now had to guide.
" Are you prepared, Maruki?"
Jerking in surprise, Maruki whirled around, searching for the origin of the inhuman voice. It sometimes showed up in his dreams, but never outside of them. "I-I am."
" Gooood. Do not fail me. We will complete humanity's wish for being controlled."
"…Yes." Maruki agreed after a pause. He did not like this things emphasis on control. It was such a harsh word, and not what he was truly trying to do. He merely wanted to create a world where no one would suffer. This presence had heard his desire and deemed that their goals aligned.
I'll have to be careful of this thing… Still Maruki was glad for its power. It had unlocked his ability to manipulate people's perceptions so that he could cure deep-seated mental trauma. Furthermore, it had been the key to allowing them to connect their server to the cognitive world. Now their app could directly interface with the user's true self.
"Hey," Maruki called out to the presence before it faded. "What… What do you see when you look outside?"
"Despair." It growled instantly. "A sea of souls living in a maze of agony awaiting instruction. They need guidance back to their correct cell so that they may live happily."
So similar and yet so different. Maruki pondered their two different outlooks. Ultimately though, it was the same. Whether to give them happiness or prevent them from mulling in confusion, their answers were the same.
Relieved, Maruki nodded his head. "Thank you for answering. Will you give me your name now?"
"…You may call me, Grail. For that is what I am."
"You got it Grail. Look forward to tomorrow. I'm—We are—going to change the world."
With another dark chuckle, Grail's presence disappeared leaving Maruki alone once more. Stretching, Maruki returned to his desk. He had more work to do to ensure everything went off without a hitch.
Wednesday, November 23rd, Afternoon 20XX
"You there! Inmate Amamiya!"
Groaning, Ren stood up in the middle of his afternoon work. Stretching his sore back, he walked over to the guard. "Yes?"
"Tsk. A worthless reply from a worthless person. How did this happen?"
"How did what happen?" Ren asked bluntly. He wasn't all that scared of getting on the bad side of the guards here. He did his work diligently enough that they had their hands full with the others.
"…You're being discharged. Go to the warden's office to sign the release papers."
"What?" Ren didn't quite believe his ears. "I'm being released?"
"You heard me, you dumb inmate. I imagine we will be seeing you again soon."
Left with that nasty final comment, Ren was free to walk the halls of the prison. Barely conscious, his mind was bleached white as he talked to the warden and signed the required documents. Even as a prisoner, he could not escape Japan's relentless love of paperwork.
Suddenly, Ren was outside wearing the clothes he had arrived in with his phone and wallet restored. "What… is happening?" Not receiving an answer, Ren mindlessly followed the road north until he reached the Chuo line. Taking the train back east, Ren finally felt like he had his mind back in order.
Having his thoughts in order however, made him keenly aware of the biggest problem: Sumire. A quick glance at his phone showed that it had received an endless number of notifications. Many were likely from the phantom chat and a few of Ren's other friends; the majority of them were from Sumire.
"Ahh, I just don't know what to do… Call her? Ask Kasumi for an update on her mood? …Ah, I want to see her again."
Ren had only had time to miss Sumire during the nights. And even then, it never lasted for long. The prison kept him so busy that most nights he passed out from exhaustion quickly. Now that he was suddenly released, Ren finally got to think about all the time that they missed together.
So, when he finally left the last train station, Ren called. His call rang and rang. Just when he was about to give up, she picked up.
"Senpai!?"
"Ah, hey Sumi. I umm…"
"It really is you… Ren…"
The relief in her voice crushed his heart. All of the words and excuses that he had thought of during the long train rides crumpled into five simple words. "I want to see you."
"Same… but I already had to leave the classroom to answer your call. The prison is so far away that—"
"I was released."
" Y-You were… Ren, that's…" Sumire's voice broke up. She had sounded tearful from the beginning, but this was different. All he could do was listen as she sobbed. Each sound another dagger to his heart of the pain his decisions had caused her.
"Sumi…" Even speaking as gently as possible, his voice sounded rough to his own ears. He had no words to comfort her. He suffered in silence as he deserved to.
"Are you… at LeBlanc?"
"I will be shortly." Ren answered when Sumire finally spoke.
" I'm coming now."
"What about school?" Checking his phone, Ren saw that there was still about half an hour left before classes were out. "Also, don't you have practice?"
"Don't try to dissuade me. And if you aren't at LeBlanc when I arrive…"
Sumire's unspoken threat was far more ominous than any actual words could have been.
"I-I will be!" Ren knew that it was impossible for Sumire to beat him to LeBlanc from the school. Still… He found himself walking faster to reach the café just in case.
With held breath, Ren entered LeBlanc a short while later. With a nervous glance around the interior, Ren was glad to discover the absence of red hair. Sighing in relief, Ren's shoulders relaxed, his guard lowering.
"…Ren? You're back?"
Freezing, Ren's face paled. He had been so concerned about Sumire that he had forgotten to let anyone know he was coming. "Ahh, yeah…"
His weak answer got only silence from Sojiro. Ren's guardian stood behind the counter; hands frozen in the process of washing glasses. Unsure of what to do, Ren stepped into LeBlanc properly. It was mostly empty, but a few groups of people were present and staring at Ren.
"Hey, isn't that…"
"Ah yeah, the kid that used to work here."
"Ha! Here to convince old Sojiro to hire you back on?"
"Something like that…" Ren replied awkwardly to the final comment. However, to Sojiro, Ren found himself with nothing to say. Sojiro chuckled and went back to washing the dishes.
"Welcome back."
"I… I'm home." Bowing his head, Ren retreated up the stairs. His room was largely untouched but cleaner than he had expected. It got dusty quickly, but it looked freshly cleaned. "No way Kawakami is sneaking in to do this…"
With no other leads, Ren collapsed on his bed with a groan. He had hated this thing in April. Compared to the mess of lumps that was the prison mattress, it felt like heaven. "Ahh, I'm glad to be out…"
But why?
Curiosity getting the best of him, Ren opened his messages and searched for Sae. There was nothing from the detective since their agreement to meet up for his arrest. Pressing call, Ren waited for Sae to pick up.
Unlike Sumire, it happened almost immediately. " Who is this?"
"Uhh, Amamiya Ren. I was calling because I got released and figured you had—"
"You were released!?" Sae's voice was sharp and commanding. " I suppose there was a chance but…"
"A chance? What are you talking about? I was told that I was under behavior review for the first sixty days and only if I passed could I even make a phone call."
"You haven't heard then." Sae's voice was a heavy sigh. " Open the app store on your phone. It will be the one that is trending at the top. I thought I'd have at least a week to see what effects it had…"
"What are you talking about?" Ren's voice was sharp with confusion. Obeying Sae's instructions, he put her on speaker and began to navigate through the menus to trending applications. "It's this… Salvation? It looks kind of cheap…"
The top of the app was light and happy with figures dancing on an idyllic green lawn while below, the bars of a cage kept out various negative emotions: sorrow, sadness, rage. Or is it keeping the people in?
Either way, after his stay in a prison, Ren shivered, not eager to face more time incarcerated. Downloading the app, Ren turned off speaker mode and returned it to his ear.
" Whether it meets your aesthetic preferences is not the issue. It's the Konoe corporation's newest product. More importantly, it was masterminded by one Maruki Takuto."
"Maruki?"
"Ahh, the same doctor that worked at your school. He has somehow tapped into the power of cognitive psience and incorporated it into the app."
"Impossible." Ren dismissed instantly. "The only people who can access the metaverse naturally are Akechi and I. It's probably a marketing gimmick."
" Is that why you were released? A marketing gimmick?"
"Well…" Ren was once again left with no response to the new director.
Furthermore, there have already been changes, albeit subtle."
"Such as?"
"Crime is down across the country. It's been decreasing steadily for a few months now, but today was a sharp falloff."
"What?" Ren had no idea. "But… why? Isn't that odd?"
"Of course it is…" Sae sighed heavily on the other side of the line. "I forget too often how young you and my sister are. Don't worry about the minutia, but we will see by tomorrow morning how large the effect truly is."
"A-Alright. Keep us up to date please. This is a dangerous power. I know Dr. Maruki is a good person, but we may have to intervene."
"Hmm… My sister said almost the same thing. Why do you both trust this man so much?"
"He's…" Ren didn't know what to say. How to explain it? "Too kind, I guess? Like… He's a bit of a goofball. Even with someone like Madarame, no matter how good his exterior, he still had an arrogance to him. Maruki doesn't really have that. There's no way that he intends to exploit people."
" And if he is being tricked by Konoe?"
"That… is definitely possible." Ren thought for a moment. "No, that's likely actually. This power can influence people. It's far easier to use it for evil."
"So you say. Anyway, you should take the rest of the week to get yourself reacquainted with your family. No matter how you were released… I'm glad you were. You didn't deserve the fate that was placed on you."
"Hmm, I wonder about that…" Ren still felt guilt over his actions in Shido's palace. He had failed them all, Ryuji particularly. While Ren had been lashing out in revenge, his friend had been the one to suffer for it.
"I'm being serious here, Ren. I'll get Makoto to ensure that you relax and recover from the ordeals that you've faced."
"I get it, I get it," Ren grumbled, almost blushing. "Geez, you don't need to be so hard on me. I'll do my best to relax."
"Hard?" Sae laughed. "I'm being easy on you. This country owes you a lot, and your only reward was getting thrown in a cell… To say that we have failed you is an understatement. I know that—"
Ren's attention instantly cut out as someone came barreling up the stairs. The long curtain of red hair fanning out behind them meant with could only be one person. "Sorry Sae, Sumire's here." With no explanation and having missed at least a sentence, Ren hung up.
Sumire had frozen at the top of the stairs. Wearing her school uniform, she stared at him through her mirrored glasses. "It's… really you, right?"
"Yeah," Ren's voice choked up a bit. "It's me, Sumi."
"Wahhh!" Bawling like a baby, Sumire threw herself at him.
With arms spread wide, Ren wrapped her tightly against his body. Even as she sobbed against him, Ren felt like a weight was being lifted from his shoulders. Sojiro's greeting had been a start, but now Ren could say it and fully mean it. "I'm home."
"WAAA!" Sumire sobbed harder. Despite her small frame, her wiry muscles kept a tight hold on his body.
Unable to resist his girlfriend's feline strength, Ren rested his chin on her head with a smile. "You know, I was worried you were going to be angry with me. This is much better."
The sobs slowly faded, and after one final sniff, Sumire spoke. "Why do you think I'm not angry?"
"W-Well, because?"
"I was just testing what condition you were in to see how badly I can beat you for what you did."
"S-Sumire… It was the correct thing—" The swiftly growing dark aura around his girlfriend interrupted him. As Sumire began to step away from him, Ren knew that her threat was not an idle one. So, doing the only thing he could do, Ren grabbed her chin. "I missed you."
"Oh, don't you think that—Mhhhmpf!"
Sealing her lips with his, Ren halted the speech before it could start. "I missed you so much." Pushing out brief phrases in between his kisses, Ren hoped that he made his feelings plain. He knew how much he hurt her, for it had hurt him just as much.
"F-Fine, you're forgiven!" Sumire eventually conceded as she hid in his chest again.
Stroking her head, Ren was ready to melt into her presence. That was when Sumire put another dagger into his heart with a single question.
"Why did you trust my sister and not me?"
"…I thought you forgave me?"
"I did. I am merely asking what it is about my sister that you were comfortable telling her your plan and not me."
"It… It isn't anything you did per se… It's that… I thought you would stop me."
"Hmm so you don't trust my rationality when you're involved?"
"I… I suppose I don't." Ren was forced to admit. The words hurt, but it was true. Closing his eyes, Ren forced out the admission as well. "Not just me, your sister too. From you trying to explore Kobayakawa's palace by yourself to rushing headlong through Futaba's… you tend to lose your composure."
"I get it." Sumire responded; voice deadened. "That… hurts to hear."
"I'm sorry."
"Why? You're right. I hate to admit it, but I would have done everything possible to stop you."
"Sumire…" Ren had no idea what else to say as he stroked her hair. He had been so eager to see her. So happy at the idea. This awkward discussion of her failings had not been in his plan.
"I don't think I'll ever change," Sumire whispered honestly. "I'll continue to cling onto the two of you with all of my strength."
"Thank you for that." Ren stroked her back. "All I need is your support."
"But you may go behind my back again, won't you?" Sumire accused.
"I don't want to… but yes. If I have to." Ren said, unable to lie.
"Grr… This is frustrating."
"…" Ren grinded his teeth, unable to properly comfort his girlfriend that he continued to hurt. "I… How about this? If I promise to tell you about what I want to do, you won't stop me."
"…Am I allowed to try and change your mind?"
"Absolutely. I'd appreciate that."
"Hmm… Sorry, I can't accept that. I want to be able to stop you when you do something stupid."
"But what if Kasumi agrees with me?"
Sumire actually leaned back to glare at him. It was the first real time that their eyes had met. Ren only wished their souls had been more aligned at the time. "Then maybe you should date her!"
"Sumire, I—"
"I know!" She yelled, voice breaking. Leaning her head back against his chest, she beat at him weakly with a fist. "I know I'm unreasonable! I know I'm not objective! I just… I feel like you're trying to die."
"W-What?"
But her rant wasn't finished. "You're always trying to martyr yourself for the group. You never pay enough attention to your own life. Contrary to what you think, other people can deal with problems that arise! Care for yourself more, please…"
"I-I…" Ren no longer had any more room for maneuvering. Tears clogging his eyes, he roughly pulled Sumire into an even tighter hug. She let out a cute squeak at the sudden motion. Taking a moment to compose what he wanted to say, Ren whispered forcefully into her ear. "I don't want to die. I want to stay with you. I want to be there when you fulfill your dream. I want… I want to have a family with you, whatever shape that takes."
Sumire nodded against him. Her voice came out muffled. "Okay. I believe you."
With those simple words, the discomfort finally faded from the room. Hearts beating as one, the battlefield turned into an idyllic pasture where they could rest and recover.
Wednesday, November 23rd, 20XX Evening
"Ugh, long distance crutching could be an actual workout." Ryuji complained half-jokingly.
Ann who was walking beside him, shot Ryuji a worried look. "We should have gotten a taxi after all, huh? Sorry. Let me know when you want to leave and I'll—"
"It's fine." Ryuji assured her with a quick laugh. "I'm mostly kidding."
"Mostly." Ann repeated dryly.
Ryuji could only shrug as he felt the leather press up against his armpits that were succumbing to the slow process of chafing. His reinjured right leg was in a brace and could theoretically be walked on, but the odds of full recovery would improve if he gave it more time with no pressure.
With a little more effort, they reached the door of LeBlanc. Ann, with her typical attentiveness, was already at the door, holding it open for him. "Thanks again."
"No problem!" Ann replied happily.
Giving her a wink, Ryuji hopped through the narrow doorway. As always, Sojiro was manning the bar. He gave Ryuji a respectful nod before jabbing a thumb at the stairs. "You get up alright or need me to go call for help?"
"Nah, I'm all good," Ryuji assured him.
Hopping over to the base of the stairs, Ryuji stood on one leg and gave the crutches to Ann. Then, with one hand on the railing, Ryuji hopped up the stairs. It was fairly safe for someone of his athletic prowess. If he did misstep, the railing and Ann behind him should stabilize him with no damage.
Once again, Ryuji ascended the stairs with no problem. When he arrived at the top, everyone was already there. No one even noticed his arrival. They were too busy clustering around Ren, asking him dozens of questions. Thinking he could just casually slide into the conversation; Ryuji began hopping for the nearby couch when…
"Ryuji!" Ren stood up with a surprised gasp.
"Ahh, I've been busted, have I?" Ryuji laughed. "And I made sure to hop up those rickety stairs super quietly as we—"
Getting hit by a sudden force; Ryuji struggled to maintain his balance. Finding himself supported completely by someone else, Ryuji let out a bark. "The hell!?"
"I'm sorry Ryuji. This is all—"
"Oi oi oi!" Ryuji glared down at Ren who was supporting him. "Did prison change you that much? Come on now, drop it. We all knew what we were getting into."
"That's not…"
"You better release me, or I'll slug ya in the face." Ryuji promised him in a deathly quiet voice.
"Hehe, you still haven't gotten over your embarrassment, have you?" Ann teased coming over and poking him in the arm. "And here I thought that after you worked up the courage to confess to me that—"
"H-Hold on!" Ryuji protested, his face going scarlet. "W-Why are we picking on the injured guy? Seriously Ren, get off me. We're chill, aight?"
Ren did finally release him, but he still had that concerned expression. Brandishing a fist, Ryuji continued hopping to the couch. "You go snuggle with your girlfriend again, not me."
"Sure…" Ren left with pursed lips. "Well, it's good to see the two of you again. With that, everyone is here except Haru."
"Who isn't coming," Sumire said. "So everyone is here."
"I heard from Sae," Makoto spoke up. "You don't know why you were released?"
"No, I don't. I'm waiting to hear back from Sae on if she can get those documents as well as crime rate for the day."
"Crime rate?" Ryuji asked, completely out of the loop.
It was Makoto who answered. "Crime appears to be disappearing. Or at least… going down quickly."
"Huh?" Ryuji shared a look with Ann. Thankfully, she looked as confused as he did. Futaba was right there thankfully, and instantly jumped in with an explanation on how this is an indication that the Konoe corporation application is changing people's cognitive states.
Feeling somewhat up to date, Ryuji nodded. "So… Are we… changing this Akira's heart?"
Everyone looked at him.
Silently.
Gnawing his teeth, Ryuji sent them defiant looks. "He's brainwashing the public! Shouldn't we do something!?"
"I think they are just surprised you had a great idea," Ann laughed, laying a hand on his leg. "Also, I'm warning you now, if you try to come, I'll tie you up so you can't."
"D-Don't be dramatic," Ryuji shot her a subtle look. "Also… I think my leg may be healed in the cognitive world."
"It's possible," Morgana sighed. "Your injury is likely from exiting the palace while falling. That momentum was transferred to your body as you exited back to the real world. …Probably."
"S-See Ann? Even Morgana's on my side!"
"You wish," Morgana sniffed.
"Hmm… We can do an experiment," Ann allowed.
"Are we honestly considering this?" Ren asked quietly. "With no real information?"
"Based on the way you are talking; you've confirmed that he has a palace?" Yusuke asked.
Ryuji jerked at that. He had assumed but did not know. Ren, however, nodded. "He does."
Whistling, Ryuji leaned back on the couch. "Well, that about tells us all we need to know about his sincerity, yeah?"
"…Distorted desires do not make one evil," Ren countered.
Everyone couldn't help but steal a glance at Futaba who shifted uncomfortably.
It was not her but Sumire who ended up speaking. "But what if changing his heart shuts down the app and they arrest Ren again? We can't risk it until we know what the result will be."
"Surely Sae could do something to keep him out?"
"I don't know," Makoto responded to Ann's question, shrugging. "I mean if the charges are dropped…"
"This is unimportant, "Ren said. "All we need to do is decide if it is worth changing Akira's heart or not."
"…No," Sumire whispered. "You betrayed us when you locked yourself up. You don't get to decide if it is unimportant."
Ryuji almost shivered as the temperature in the room plummeted sharply. Sharing a worried look with Ann, Ryuji stayed silent as the couple stared each other down.
"Sumire," Futaba interjected. "Sae is the director now. Ren's charges have been dropped. We've already—"
"I don't trust Sae's intentions!" Sumire blurted out. "She had a palace too if you haven't forgotten! Of the two, I trust Maruki more! If he is onboard with this then there is no reason for us to mess it up! Have you all forgotten that crime is going down? He's improving society!"
"Sumire, you said that—"
"I promised nothing." She cut off Ren coldly. They weren't glaring at each other, but Ryuji could practically see the wall between them on this issue.
"That's… true. Fine, let's drop this issue for a few days. We need to focus on a problem that we've put off too long."
"What's that?" Morgana asked.
"Yours." Ren said simply.
"Huh?"
"We are going to the bottom of mementos to recover your lost memories and true form."
Thursday, November 24th, 20XX Noon
"And where are the documents that I requested, Mizuhara?"
"Umm, about that director… I've been reevaluating my life… and I think I'll be happier as a florist."
"…Excuse me?" Sae was genuinely baffled by the odd reply.
"W-What I'm trying to say is that I quit!"
"Uhh, okay? And the documents?"
"…I was applying for jobs at floral shops and not working! My apologies, I'm going for an interview now!"
"HUH!?" Mouth gaping, Sae could only watch as her secretary quit. The impromptu event left her even more short-handed. "W-What is happening?"
No specific event reported to her over the past two days had been odd. But they kept piling up. Like finding a one-hundred-yen coin on the road. How many could you pick up before you started to wonder if the world was playing a trick on you? Or maybe it was just a ridiculous internet trend of dropping coins on the ground. Whatever the reason, there was a line where the number of common occurrences become uncommon.
For Sae, this was the line.
The number of odd events that told her something had clearly happened to the world. Getting up she rushed after her secretary and called out a question as she entered the elevator. "Mizuhara, are you using the Konoe company's new app?"
"Of course. It truly is Salvation."
With those ominous words the elevator doors closed with a hiss. Snapping shut on what Sae was sure would be the last time she saw her secretary. "That damn app…"
Curiosity piqued, Sae returned to her office and downloaded it. Opening it, she leaned back in her chair. It opened with calming music and a peaceful voice talking in low tones. There was no way anyone would be stimulated by it.
"Congratulations on taking your first step to Salvation. To continue your journey please accept the following contract."
"Contract?" The strong language was a bit startling.
"By agreeing, you accept that your life is not perfect and you would like help improving it. We at Salvation, want to guide you to your perfect life, free of suffering and pain."
"Perfect life?" Sae sniffed. "Yeah right. For that to happen, my dad would have to come back to life."
With those emotions in her heart, Sae touched the accept button. Already, she was sure that she was looking for answers in the wrong place. This new, strange 'Salvation' had no way of achieving anything. If something was going on, this application had to be a cover. A distraction.
Even as she made these conclusions, Sae was multi-tasking by finishing the short set-up.
"It appears that you are stressed. Why don't you try 'bad emotions go away!' to help with that?"
"A lucky guess. Anyone desperate enough to download this app is stressed."
Following instructions, Sae opened the game and learned what to do. There was a bubble in the button third of her screen. It was red and pulsing. Frowning at it, Sae pushed down on the screen with her thumb. As she did, the bubble writhed under her touch, the fluctuations increasing in intensity. The red bubble growing to an even angrier scarlet.
As her excessive force faded and became constant and steady, the sharp spikes disappeared and the angry colours began to fade. The reds reduced to an orange and then down to yellow. "Hmm? Didn't it say green and blue were the best?"
As Sae pursed her lips at her failure, the bubble started back to orange. "Ah!"
Locked in on the bubble, listening to the calming sounds of running water with a quiet violin over it, time passed. Eventually, the colour began to change to a yellowish-green. While it could have been a disgusting colour if presented poorly, the top notch graphics made it wonderful. Smiling from happiness, Sae sighed and leaned back.
"Ahaha, I did it!" Taking a look at her computer, Sae's eyes widened. An hour. She had been doing this stupid bubble game for an hour!
"Hmm… I guess I should take care of some work. Then I can relieve my stress when I get home!"
Even as she tried to do her job as director, Sae had one regret left in her mind. If only my father was here, he'd be better at this than me… Maybe I'd have time for a date.
With a peaceful smile on her face, Sae did not notice the discrepancy in her thinking.
Thursday, November 24th, 20XX After school
"I'll be back in a moment." Waving a hand, Joker disappeared through the velvet room door in mementos. He had been looking forward to this. His last time visiting had been far too short to get properly introduced to the new residents of the room.
Vision fading to white for a moment, Joker stumbled and emerged in the familiar prison. However, for the first time, he was not locked in his cell. The door was gone and Joker was free to walk up to the desk where the new Igor was sitting with Lavenza by his side.
"Welcome back, Trickster. It's an honor to welcome you to the velvet room."
"Ahh… Thanks, I guess."
Lavenza's smile twisted slightly. "The way you look at me… There is something you wish to ask, yes?"
"Are… Are Justine and Caroline inside you? Or…?"
"I understand. You worry about your friends and the bond you forged with them." Lavenza paused as she looked down. Her eyes were deep in thought. "I… Am both of them and neither of them. It is hard to explain, but part of me was lost when I was split. But those two halves grew into their own people and included parts that were not reincorporated into me when you fused us."
"Fused us?" Joker questioned her pronoun choice.
Lavenza chuckled. "Apologies. You stare at me like a stranger. But to me, you are my savior. To put your mind at ease, I have both Justine and Caroline's memories and experiences. I am neither, but they can hear all of your words."
Taking a deep breath, Lavenza held a hand to her chest and stared directly at Joker, eyes sparkling.
"Thank you so much Trickster. We were right to put our trust in you."
In her face, Joker saw both Caroline and Justine. The eyes had not changed. The warmth in their hearts from the bond they had built was still there. Unable to stop himself, Joker walked up and enfolded the smaller woman in his arms.
"Thank you for trusting me." Ren whispered. "I wouldn't have made it this far without you both. Err, all three of you?"
Lavenza chuckled. "Something like that. I hope this doesn't incite you to seduce me, trickster. I know every man dreams of having multiple wives."
Blushing, Joker quickly released her. With memories of the twins' power flooding his mind, Joker gave himself a strong reminder to be less free with his hands. One misstep and he'd be dodging heat rays.
At last Igor chuckled. "My my, even in my absence you have done well to forge strong bonds. The attendants are very particular. It is quite a challenge to win them over to your side."
Joker almost missed the implication in the words. "Wait… there are more besides Justin—err, Lavenza?"
"Why yes. A whole family of them. Those who rule over power. And yet, perhaps your power will eclipse theirs?"
"Is that… possible?" Based on how the 'fight' went, they were in another world of potential.
"Possibly," Lavenza smirked. "If you do surpass me, I will give you that most precious to me."
"Urgh!" Getting taunted again, Joker turned fully to face Igor. He had no idea how to deal with his new attendant. The angry Caroline and cool Justine had made much more sense. "Umm, can you now tell me about the fake Igor? All you mentioned last time was that Morgana was the key to everything."
"Mwehehe, is that not enough? It would spoil the game to reveal everything."
"Game?" Joker said in disbelief. "You think this is a game?"
"Hmm, is that not how my predecessor referred to it? An unjust, unfair game, with almost no chance of success. You are in the final weeks now, Trickster. Choose carefully and keep your friends close. You will need all the help you can get to overcome the challenges ahead of you. …Unless you wish to give up."
"He will not!" Lavenza huffed.
Igor gave her a look and Lavenza pouted in silence. "It is the guest's choice which path they wish their life to take. We are here simply to observe and lend aid to their decisions."
"My decisions…" Joker shook his head before he could dwell on those for too long. "For aid, can you please explain who that fake Igor was?"
"Mwehehe, that was the being that bet against me about humanity's decision. He took it further than expected, but I still believe that humanity will take the path I predicted."
"That being… Is it likely that I'll have to fight it? How strong is it?"
"Hmm…" Igor stroked his nose. The sight was almost wrong with how long it took to go the length. Which called up other imagery that had Joker adverting his eyes. "That being was strong enough to seal me away and split Lavenza. However, it required subterfuge to do so. You may assume that if you and your friends can match Lavenza together, you should be able to defeat it with an apt strategy."
Finally a straightforward answer. Bowing, Joker thanked Igor. Then, he turned to Lavenza. "I know this is inappropriate to ask but…"
She cut him off with a smile and a raised hand. With an elegant curtsy, she spoke. "It would be my honour to be your sparring opponent whenever you wish. I will prepare a space where no one will suffer permanent injury, and your companions will forget the battle after."
"They'll… forget it?" Joker asked.
"Indeed."
"Is that necessary?"
"Indeed."
"Is that all you can say?"
"Indeed."
"…Do you want to marry me?"
"Indeed."
"Urgh!" With his ploy backfiring, Ren avoided looking at Lavenza and her coy smile.
Igor chuckled. "Perhaps I should give the two of you space to deepen your bond."
"That's alright!" Joker yelled. "I will be heading out. Thank you both!"
As Joker fled the velvet room, laughter chased him out.
It ended up being the last bit of laughter for the day. Three hours later, Joker found himself completely exhausted sitting at another one of the endless train benches, countless floors below the surface.
"So much monotony…" Oracle complained. "Why are the shadows so strong? This is agony!"
"We've made so much progress though," Joker sighed, not moving a muscle. "Surely just a couple more floors."
"How many times have you said that?" Panther complained. "Even Skull is getting bored of using his healed leg. Which doesn't seem to be one hundred percent."
"He can stay in Mona then," Joker sighed in response. "Quen, Fox, and I can handle the front lines."
"Can we?" Fox asked, rolling his shoulder with a pained wince. "Our bodies heal from the injuries but…"
"Each one takes a toll," Queen agreed. "If only Noir were here."
"I'll do my best to make up for her absence," Joker said, sitting up straight in the chair. In an effort to make up for his absence, he had been trying to work harder than everyone. Even with his arsenal of adaptable personas however, his body felt dead. The long days of manual labor in the prison had ground down his endurance and stretched him thin.
Mona collapsed to the ground as he entered his cat form. He had been transforming less and less. Joker wasn't sure the last time he even talked was. "I think we should call it for today."
"But Mona! This is your goal, your dream! We can still—"
"Can still die!" Mona yelled. "Didn't Shido's palace teach you anything? Yes, I want my memories. Yes, I want to become human! But not at the cost of losing any of you. Calm down, Joker. You aren't acting like the person I wanted leading our activities in the metaverse."
"…None of you understand." Joker could not restrain the harsh words. He could not accuse them of not caring. They did. They all wanted to help Morgana. But they all lacked the urgency of this being an important mission. Likely they thought that there was no time limit. Months of time to finish this.
"What don't we understand?"
Facing them, Joker revealed part of the truth. "There is a malevolent deity that is attempting to corrupt the world."
"…What? You mean a god?" Fox questioned.
"…Basically." Joker answered, unsure of what else to say. As confused silence surrounded him, Joker tried one more time. "The source of Akechi and my powers was a bet. The one that had bet on Akechi is now on the loose and doing something. My only lead is reaching the bottom of mementos."
"So it wasn't even about me?" Mona sighed. "Guess that's to be expected. Whatever. Things just keep getting crazier."
"Is that… really all you know?" Violet asked. Her red eyes piercing into him suspiciously.
"No."
"But you won't say more?"
"That's right. Soon… we will learn everything together."
"…I trust you." Violet declared. Turning to Mona, she pointed a harsh finger at the cat. "Apologize to Joker, Mona. You know that he wants to help you."
"I… yeah, sorry, Joker. But really, let's finish this tomorrow."
"Very well." Agreeing, Joker took a final glance down the nearby escalator. The atmosphere was becoming denser each time they descended. The bottom was close. Tomorrow they would find something. Maybe not the answer they wanted, but something.